Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Since you are being sent by the king and his seven advisors to investigate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which you carry with you;
The Persian king is officially sending Ezra to examine and manage religious affairs in Jerusalem, giving him authority to use God's law as his guide.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a letter from Persian King Artaxerxes I to Ezra around 458 BC, giving him official authority to return to Jerusalem and restore proper worship there. The Persian Empire had a policy of allowing conquered peoples to maintain their religious practices, and the king's seven counselors formed his inner advisory circle. Ezra was both a priest and a scribe who had devoted himself to studying and teaching God's law.
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